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Navitas Lease Corp. Launches Hardware as a Service for MSPs
Posted July 12th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
Navitas Lease Corp., a Channel Finance 25 company, has introduced hardware as a service (HaaS) offerings for managed services providers (MSPs) and channel partners. The move caught MSPmentor’s attention because Navitas financial team members have worked with N-able customers and partners for more than five years. Here’s the update.
Britec, Empower Merge to focus on Microsoft, SAGE Solutions
Posted July 12th, 2011 by Nicholas Mukhar
Talk about timing. Britec Computer Systems Ltd. and Empower Business Solutions — two Microsoft and SAGE channel partners with some managed services expertise — have merged. The combined Canadian company will focus on accounting solutions and managed business services. The deal surfaced a few days before Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2011 and SAGE Summit kicked off in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., respectfully.
BHI Advanced Internet Changes Name to SecureConnect
Posted July 12th, 2011 by Nicholas Mukhar
What’s in a name? Just ask BHI Advanced Internet Inc., the Minnesota-based Internet security services provider decided to change its name to SecureConnect Inc. in early July. BHI has been operating as a subsidiary of SecureConnect for the past decade, so the name change doesn’t signify a huge shift. But it does bring an end to the 18 year history of BHI as a standalone branch.
LiveTime 6.5: Service Desk Meets Cloud Computing
Posted July 12th, 2011 by Nicholas Mukhar
LiveTime Software — an on-premise and software-as-a-service (SaaS) ITSM service desk provider — has released LiveTime 6.5. So what’s in it for channel partners and customers? LiveTime Software President Darren Williams gave me some perspectives.
Despite Weak Economy, SMBs Continue IT Spending
Posted July 12th, 2011 by Dan Berthiaume
Call it a blessing in disguise. Most recent economic reports say SMBs have been slow to make hires. But most IT research indicates that SMBs continue to expand their IT spending. In theory, that means SMBs will increasingly turn to managed services providers (MSPs) and other external folks for IT assistance to fill tactical and strategic gaps.
Seven Managed Services Blogs MSPmentor Didn’t Write
Posted July 11th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
After a one-week vacation, I’m plugging back into MSPmentor and our sister sites. My email inbox is flooded with news tips, rumors and perspectives about the managed services market (thanks to those who pinged me). Based on those tips and some other observations, here are seven managed services blogs I didn’t write during my vacation — covering the week ending July 8, 2011.
Trend Micro Helps MSPs Embrace IT Consumerization
Posted July 11th, 2011 by Matthew Weinberger
The new breed of mobility represented by devices such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab and the Apple iPhone also presents IT staff with a slew of potential headaches, as employees increasingly want to use their own tablets, smartphones and, yes, home computers in the workplace. To help MSPs and cloud service providers meet the challenge of that IT consumerization, Trend Micro has updated its Mobile Security offering to version 7.
Glowpoint Acquires Avaya’s Managed Services for Video
Posted July 11th, 2011 by Nicholas Mukhar
Glowpoint Inc., the cloud managed video services provider, announced a partnership with Avaya back in May 2011. Fast forward to the present and Glowpoint has officially acquired Avaya’s Managed Service for Video technology.
Microsoft Makes Cloud Pitch to Managed Services Providers
Posted July 11th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
What a difference a year makes. During Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2010, incoming Channel Chief Jon Roskill conceded that he was still getting up to speed on the managed services market. Fast forward to this week’s WPC 2011 conference in Los Angeles, and Microsoft has rolled out the red carpet to selected managed services providers. Here’s the update.
What Makes a Cloud Aggregator?
Posted July 11th, 2011 by Maurice Saluan
We haven’t quite left the hype stage of cloud computing yet, which means fear and confusion still weigh disproportionately on decisions of whether to jump on the cloud. For IT service providers, the fear and confusion present opportunities to educate end customers as providers take on the role of cloud services aggregators. In fact, I would argue that education is a key element in any business plan to build a cloud aggregation business. For one thing, providers need to educate themselves on available options and strategies. Only then can they truly guide their customers through the morass of cloud-related options, pitfalls and opportunities. But first, what is a “cloud aggregator?”
N-Able Releases Policy Manager for MSPs
Posted July 8th, 2011 by Nicholas Mukhar
N-Able Technologies, the remote monitoring and management (RMM) software provider, has released N-Able Policy Manager — a suite designed to help MSPs and IT departments save time spent on comparing and reporting Group Policy Objects (GPOs).
LiveTime Launches HTML5 Service Management for MSPs
Posted July 8th, 2011 by Matthew Weinberger
IT service management software (ITSM) developer LiveTime Software has updated its namesake solution for MSPs to version 6.5, adding 100 new features, 200 customer requests and, most noticeably, a shiny new HTML5 interface.
Gridstore Formalizes Partner Push for Cloud Storage MSPs
Posted July 8th, 2011 by John Moore
Gridstore, which makes an SMB-focused network attached storage product, has launched a formal channel effort as MSPs push its offering in new directions. Indeed, the company recently provided details on its Gridstore Partner Program, which offers MSPs and VARs deal registration, market development funding, and professional services. As for the latter, Gridstore provide pre-sales and implementation support to help partners land their first two deals.
The ABC’s of Managed Services (Part 2)
Posted July 8th, 2011 by Ted Roller
Last month we talked about what I consider the three foundational elements of a successful MSP business. A is for Availability, and last month I composed a list of questions that MSPs and aspiring MSPs might want to consider as they build and grow their MSP practice. So this month, let’s dig deeper into the tactics associated with trying to achieve 100% uptime at your customer’s site with my special guest, MJ Shoer, founder and President of Jenaly Technology Group.
If I Was Launching an MSP Today: 10 Steps to Consider
Posted July 7th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
Generally speaking, I think most MSPmentor readers have been building their managed services businesses for five to 10 years. But what if you were building that business from scratch right now? Here are 10 steps to consider for startup MSPs — though the steps certainly apply to established MSPs that are looking to rethink their strategies for the second half of 2011.
What’s the True Cost of PCI Compliance? StillSecure Calculates Answers
Posted July 7th, 2011 by Nicholas Mukhar
StillSecure has announced another new product to add to its PCI Compliance package — the PCI Compliance Cost Calculator. The PCI Compliance Cost calculator is intended to help level 1-4 retailers predict and possibly cut the cost of becoming PCI compliant. On the one hand, MSPmentor realizes online “calculators” can be gimmicks designed to get customers to spend more on various IT services. But on the other hand, well-designed calculators can help MSPs to show customers the value of specific services, the hidden cost of inaction, and other financial considerations that some folks overlook.
Weather Crises Equal (Sensitive) Opportunity for MSPs
Posted July 7th, 2011 by Dan Berthiaume
It’s not a matter of popular imagination, or increased news coverage. Climate scientists have confirmed that severe weather, such as tornadoes and floods, is on the rise both in the US and around the world. Everyone has surely seen footage of the devastating tornadoes and floods that have wreaked havoc in the Midwest in the past month or two, and even states with low tornado risk like Massachusetts have recently been hit hard. The turbulent times certainly provide business continuity opportunities for MSPs that are sensitive to customers’ business needs before, during and after times of crisis.
Service Desks: Self-Service Is Win-Win for MSPs, Customers
Posted July 7th, 2011 by Nimsoft Guest Blog
When it comes to profitably scaling a service provider business, there are two key requirements: First, delivering effective customer service that leads to more and more happy customers. Second, establishing the operational processes that enable this level of service, while boosting the efficiency and productivity of staff.
HP and Hexaware Help Customers Test Mobile Applications
Posted July 7th, 2011 by Nicholas Mukhar
You have to learn to walk before you run. That’s the theory behind Hewlett Packard‘s latest initiative with Hexaware Technologies, an IT, BPO and consulting service firm and an HP Software Elite Partner. Hexaware has built a software lab at its near-shore global deliver center in Saltillo, Mexico to test HP mobile software and help HP customers save money on testing applications.
Bocada Prism Data Protection Integrates With Ticketing Systems
Posted July 6th, 2011 by Nicholas Mukhar
Bocada, a data protection management and backup reporting software specialist, continues to tweak its Bocada Prism platform for managed services providers. This time, the company has integrated the ability to send alerts to trouble ticketing systems.
Appia Makes International Managed Services and VoIP Push
Posted July 6th, 2011 by Nicholas Mukhar
I recently described how Appia Communications, an MSPmentor 100 company, promotes managed services to office complexes in Indianapolis, Ind. Now, I’ve caught up with Appia Vice President of Marketing Matt Siemens to learn where the company is heading next. The answer: Appia, based in Traverse City, Mich., has big plans for the international market. Here are the details.
Expense Reports: Concur Aims to Help Channel Road Warriors
Posted July 6th, 2011 by Nicholas Mukhar
Several thousand VARs and MSPs are set to attend Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC11) the week of July 10 in Los Angeles. No doubt, those VARs and MSPs need to closely manage their travel itineraries and expenses. Concur Communications Inc. hopes to help with that process. Indeed, the company is pairing its Concur Breeze travel expense solution for SMBs with TripIt Pro to create what Concur is calling an “integrated travel and expense management solution” for small businesses.
Despite Publicized Outages, Cloud Opportunity Remains Real
Posted July 6th, 2011 by Renee Bergeron
For sure, the “cringe” word right now in cloud computing is outage. In the past few weeks, a few big ones have generated a lot of public noise, both for the inconvenience they caused online users and the questions they generated for the large companies involved.
